TREATMENT OF BROOD BITCH. 267 



bitch will allow them to suck much after that age. In all 

 cases it is best to muzzle the foster nurse for at least 24 hours. 

 Some of her own whelps should be left at first together with the 

 young greyhounds, and withdrawn, one by one, as she gets 

 accustomed to them. In this way there is seldom much trouble 

 in getting her to take to the new lot, even if her own whelps are a 

 fortnight old, after which the milk is not so well adapted for 

 newly-born puppies. 



If the litter is more than four or five, it is necessary to begin 

 to feed as soon as possible, in addition to the mother's milk ; and 

 as soon as the whelps can see, they may be induced to lap by 

 dipping their mouths into warm milk once or twice a day. They 

 soon begin to lick their lips, and, liking the taste, learn to take 

 it out of the saucer. At a fortnight old the milk may be given 

 regularly, and it is better to sweeten it a little, and at three 

 weeks to thicken it with a very little fine, wheat-flour boiled in it 

 till it turns, or if the whelps are at all purged, with arrowroot 

 or well-boiled rice. As soon as the litter has reached the fifth 

 week, it will be necessary to begin with some mutton broth made 

 from sheeps' heads, having some small portions of the meat well 

 broke up, and, thickening with flour to the consistence of cream, 

 take the precaution to avoid tape-worms mentioned at page 167. 

 This may be given twice a day, or, if the number exceeds five, 

 three times. After the fifth or sixth week the bitch had better be 

 removed entirely, and the weaning begins, which will commence 

 another division of our subject, viz. the rearing of the greyhound. 

 During the whole of her suckling the bitch must be well fed, 



